Cameras and Lenses
Why a 6x32?
Be gentle!! I have only ever used an 8x42 for birding. When I first started, it was what was recommended to me and for the most part I have been happy with it. After reading through the posts here, I notice lots of discussion about 6x32, 8x32, etc. What are the advantages of using this bin when out birding?
For the most part an 8x42 is hard to beat for a general purpose binocular. A 6x is however more useful than most would think. It is far less prone to image shake and generally fine for closer in work. Although some will insist on better detail provided by a larger image. 6x is a popular close range binocular for archery and Turkey hunting. They are ususally quite light, compact and bright. I got int the 6x simply because I had to see what all the fuss was about when Leupold introduced the 6x30 Yosemite. Kind of a specialized use binocular. I like it and use it a lot.
6x is very useful for:
- use from a vehicle on the move (including a boat on pelagic trips) (think Rommel
)
- a wide FOV e.g. in woodland or other environment where you expect close birds or a large group of birds to monitor or need to scan a wide horizon
- when you might be shaky e.g. when hiking or climbing bin if you are hiking hard or just as folks age
- a large exit pupil with a small objective lens; large exit pupils make aligning the bin and your eyes an easier task.
- kids with poor pointing ability (bigger FOV) and weaker arms (less shake) e.g. Leupold Yosemite 6x30. Same is true for people unfamiliar with using a bin so they can make good guest bins.
6x in twenty something mm objectives would be excellent too ... a 6x24 would make an excellent compact with the lower magnification helping the both the compromised grip and increasing the size of the exit pupil from smaller objective (the two common complaints with compacts).
This is one area the bin makers have not strayed into but I believe Zeiss and maybe others have 6x20 in the good old days. The German WW1 military had 6x24 porros that were used into WW2.
7x on smaller objectives would be nice too. Still used the world over by militaries for similar reasons to the above list (apart from the kids!).
Lower magnifications can be rather useful ... perhaps not the only bin but they do fill a role that the choice of only 8x or 10x misses.